Support for Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, swiftly diminished within the party after allegations of sexual assault came to light, as reported by Politico.
On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a statement urging Platner to “immediately withdraw his status as the Democratic nominee for Senate and give the Maine Democratic Party the opportunity to choose a new candidate.”
Schumer stated, “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he resign.”
The committee also warned that it wouldn’t invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remained on the ballot, which posed a serious threat to his funding.
By Tuesday, Platner’s backing had significantly eroded, with several senators retracting their support and calls for him to withdraw gaining traction.
Among those withdrawing support were Schumer, Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Martin Heinrich, Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Jon Ossoff, Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, Reuben Gallego, and Ed Markey.
This sudden loss of support is notable given that many Democratic leaders had previously backed Platner despite earlier allegations and controversies, including a concealed tattoo resembling a symbol used by Nazi guards, sexually explicit messages sent during his marriage, and past Reddit posts downplaying military sexual assault.
Sanders, a former supporter of Platner, publicly remarked, “I have discussed the best path forward for the state of Maine with Mr. Graham Platner. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.” Just over a month ago, Sanders had hosted a rally for Platner in Maine.
Congressman Ro Khanna also expressed his disapproval. In a social media statement, he said, “I am very clear that sexual assault and violence against women is a red line that cannot be crossed. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should withdraw from the race. I am withdrawing my support.”
Maine gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree called on Platner to “withdraw from the race immediately,” asserting he was “no longer the best candidate” to challenge incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the general election.
Zoran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, who had not previously endorsed Platner, also suggested during a conference call that it might be time for him to step aside.
Reportedly, Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin and the Senate Majority PAC have also rescinded their support for Platner, dealing a significant blow to his candidacy.
In response to these allegations, Platner produced a two-minute video on Monday, denying the accusations and labeling them as “troubling, serious and false,” further asserting that “any accusation of non-consensual conduct is categorically false.”
However, he acknowledged the gravity of the allegations, leading to public speculation about his political future. Platner stated, “While being mindful of the political realities that may arise even if reporting is inaccurate, we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward for the state I love, the people I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.”
As of now, there has been no definitive word on his next steps, but Platner remains committed to garnering the support he gained during his campaign. He highlighted that a record number of Mainers turned out to support him in the past.
The Maine Government Ethics and Election Practices Commission has set a deadline for July 13 for Platner to withdraw from the race, allowing Maine voters to choose a successor.
